| It is one of these days when you feel that you | | | | and a summer that lasts for more than six |
| had a tough day at work while the whole world | | | | months. At the same time there are so many |
| seems to be against you. You are walking in a | | | | places and especially in the Chania region where |
| busy street and there is not a single person | | | | you can walk on a beach or at the old Venetian |
| smiling. Dark grey clouds have covered the sky | | | | port by the sea and be able to see olive groves |
| and the cold is so strong you can feel it in your | | | | and snow caped mountain peaks. Most beaches |
| bones. Maybe you can make it to your car | | | | earn year after year the European Union blue flag |
| without getting too wet. | | | | symbolizing their safety and sparkling clean |
| You are on your way home - yet it seems like | | | | waters. |
| this traffic was put there to make the journey | | | | However, there is the issue of communication. Let |
| last forever. You have tried the bus or similar | | | | us face the facts. How many master the Greek |
| mass transportation at times but you were so | | | | language? In Crete tourism is a major source of |
| tired that you fell asleep and missed your stop. At | | | | income for the local economy and as a result the |
| least if you are driving in traffic, sleeping is not an | | | | majority of people speak at least English. At the |
| option. It is Friday night and people go out but | | | | same time the fact that Cretans are so |
| that is the last thing on your mind after being | | | | hospitable makes tourism a natural result of their |
| stressed out for the week. You just want to go | | | | way of life. |
| home and try to relax. Talk to no one or if you | | | | Not to mention that there is a great number of |
| must talk, say as little as possible. You are just | | | | non Greek nationals living in Crete already. There |
| worn out. At the same time money seems to be | | | | is even an International Community association |
| never enough these days, while long hours do not | | | | organizing activities and bazaars. Not to mention |
| necessarily increase your earnings. It is at | | | | that Greece is one of these blessed places where |
| moments like this when that thought comes in | | | | films are not dubbed. In the Chania region there |
| your mind once again: | | | | are at least 8 winter screens and two summer |
| 'I wish I could live somewhere else.... I wish I had a | | | | open cinema theatres where watching a film is an |
| different life...' | | | | experience in itself. |
| Who said that it is not an option? Personal | | | | Crete is not the place to stay in and watch |
| dissatisfaction is the primary source of | | | | television. If you wish to do that though, even the |
| international real estate. There are so many | | | | Greek T.V. channels have a number of |
| places in the Mediterranean where anyone can | | | | international shows while naturally you can always |
| have a better quality of life. Crete in Greece is | | | | have a satellite dish installed. |
| one of them. | | | | Of course when you are on the fifth largest island |
| A natural question is "Why Crete?" | | | | in the Mediterranean there are so many gorges, |
| First of all, in Crete you can probably have a | | | | beaches, villages and mountains to explore that |
| more comfortable home than the one you are | | | | even people that live here for their whole life |
| living in at the moment. There are villas sold for | | | | have not seen every corner of this unique place. |
| just 150,000.00 euros and apartments or | | | | If you are looking for a place to buy your holiday |
| townhouses for just 100,000.00 euros. Going out | | | | place and maybe future retirement home, Crete |
| for lunch or dinner with starters, a main course, | | | | is also the place to be. But as wise cultures have |
| half a kilo of home made wine as well as desert | | | | commented in the past: 'I do not understand |
| for two people at a local traditional restaurant | | | | people from the West. They spend their whole |
| 'taverna' rarely costs more than 25 to 30 euro. | | | | lives working and exhausting themselves so that |
| Some may ask what the food tastes like. Crete | | | | they can start living at 65, when they retire...' |
| due to its climate has excellent produce of olive | | | | So imagine your self opening your balcony door in |
| oil, vegetables and free range animals. There is | | | | the morning and feeling the sun beams softly |
| such a variety of vegetarian and meat dishes that | | | | touching your skin when a slight breeze brings you |
| it is hard for any one to be left unsatisfied. | | | | the aroma of olive groves while you can see |
| Then you have the location and the climate. The | | | | green mountains and the bright light blue sea |
| weather in Crete is by far the best in Greece. | | | | under a clear sky. This is what Crete - and |
| With more than 300 days of sunshine per year | | | | probably life - is really all about. |